Shake off the dust

Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city. Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel. As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment. Workers deserve to be fed, so don’t gather gold or silver or copper coins for your money belts to take on your trips. Don’t take a backpack for the road or two shirts or sandals or a walking stick. Whatever city or village you go into, find somebody in it who is worthy and stay there until you go on your way. When you go into a house, say, ‘Peace!’ If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if the house isn’t worthy, take back your blessing. If anyone refuses to welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or city. I assure you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than it will be for that city. (Matthew 10:5-15, CEB)

The interesting thing about this passage for me, as if there is only one, is the command. Don’t go to the Gentiles or Samaria. Go to those who are a part of our tribe and tell them what you know, curing the ill and raising the dead. Jesus told the 12 to cure diseases and raise the dead. There is no account of this happening.

And then Jesus tells them, if the people you go to will not listen, then shake the dust from their house off your feet, don’t bring it with you, but leave. If they refuse to listen or welcome you, just leave. Don’t waste your time. That is a hard pill to swallow. Because as a follower of Christ I honestly want everyone to hear and everyone to understand that Jesus loves them and that they are a child of God. But it may not be my place to tell them. I can not connect with everyone. I am not everyone’s cup of tea. (If you have ever met me in person you know this is true!) I can not convince anyone that God loves them. Only God can do that. I can share God’s love and grace if people will let me, if they won’t why should I waste their time and mine?

Loving people is knowing when they will listen and when they will not. Loving God is when we follow and do what God has told us to do.

Loving People. Loving God.

strength

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens. Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I’ll get a message that confidently makes this secret plan of the gospel known. I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so that the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say. (Ephesians 6:10-20, CEB)

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong

In our weakness God is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). In our weakness the strength of God covers us. Just like the armor which would cover a knight God covers us and protects us as we share God’s love with the world.

So be bold and share love and mercy everywhere you go.

Loving People. Loving God.

Are you mad?

At this point in Paul’s defense, Festus declared with a loud voice, “You’ve lost your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you mad!” But Paul replied, “I’m not mad, most honorable Festus! I’m speaking what is sound and true. King Agrippa knows about these things, and I have been speaking openly to him. I’m certain that none of these things have escaped his attention. This didn’t happen secretly or in some out-of-the-way place. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you trying to convince me that, in such a short time, you’ve made me a Christian?” Paul responded, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today will become like me, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:24-29, CEB)

Are you mad?

Have you lost your mind?

Have you ever spoken about Jesus to someone and they asked you these questions?

Paul was giving a defense of Christianity to Festus and Agrippa, and Agrippa, seriously or sarcastically, says that he is becoming a Christian. (This is one of the few times the word Christian is even used in the New Testament, and it is used by someone who is not a follower.)

And Paul says yes I hope that not only you Agrippa but everyone listening to him would be like him and follow after Jesus, except that they would be free. You see Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, according to Acts to protect him from other believers, and went on a journey through the powers that be to Roman. But the point I think this snippet is trying to make is that we should share our faith so boldly and unashamedly that people call us mad, and say we have learned to much.

Share your faith.

Loving People. Loving God.

healed vs cleaned

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men with skin diseases approached him. Keeping their distance from him, they raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, show us mercy!” When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they left, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus replied, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.” (Luke 17:11-19, CEB)

I have always found this passage a little puzzling. 10 people with a skin disease approached Jesus and he tells them to go and show themselves to the priests and as they are going they were cleaned of their disease. And 1 of them when he saw he was cleaned of the disease returned to Jesus to thank him, and Jesus healed him.

Is there a difference between cleaned and healed? I can say yes. I have a skin disease, it has not been diagnosed but it is dry skin. My primary care physician suggested I use a shampoo that is made for dandruff as a body wash and if I wanted to go see a dermatologist. Well, my wife bought me a bar of soap made to help those with eczema. Now my skin is better so I am cleaned but I am not healed. Because if I stop using that soap, the dry skin will return.

So do you want to be cleaned or healed? And are you ready to thank Jesus? Have you thanked Jesus and fell at his feet?

Loving People. Loving God.

clean

Jesus was in one of the towns where there was also a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged, “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” Instantly, the skin disease left him. Jesus ordered him not to tell anyone. “Instead,” Jesus said, “go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses instructed. This will be a testimony to them.” News of him spread even more and huge crowds gathered to listen and to be healed from their illnesses. But Jesus would withdraw to deserted places for prayer. (Luke 5:12-16, CEB)

Jesus was not one to keep the rules when it would get him in trouble but he wanted those who were held down to be set free and having this man go and show himself to the priest is what would set him free and allow him to rejoin the community.

Jesus made many clean and liberated them to rejoin the community.

Are we liberating people to be a part of the community?

Loving People. Loving God.

strength

So, my child, draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Take the things you heard me say in front of many other witnesses and pass them on to faithful people who are also capable of teaching others. Accept your share of suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Nobody who serves in the military gets tied up with civilian matters, so that they can please the one who recruited them. Also in the same way, athletes don’t win unless they follow the rules. A hardworking farmer should get the first share of the crop. Think about what I’m saying; the Lord will give you understanding about everything. (2 Timothy 2:1-7, CEB)

We get strength to run the race and stand up for the fight through the grace we receive from Jesus Christ. Pass along what you have learned about the faith so that others may find the strength they need to stand against the world.

We win by standing fast with Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Hold on

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you heard from me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Protect this good thing that has been placed in your trust through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. You know that everyone in Asia has turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to Onesiphorus’ household, because he supported me many times and he wasn’t ashamed of my imprisonment. After I arrived in Rome, he quickly looked for me and found me. May the Lord allow him to find his mercy on that day (and you know very well how much he served me in Ephesus). (2 Timothy 1:13-18, CEB)

Do not be like those who have fallen away from the faith, but hold on to the sound teaching you have received from us and cling to the faith and love of God.

Do not let the world pull you away, but hold fast and stand firm in the faith you have been taught.

Share that with the world and do not be swayed.

Loving People. Loving God.

Move

The next day, after leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. From far away, he noticed a fig tree in leaf, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves, since it wasn’t the season for figs. So he said to it, “No one will ever again eat your fruit!” His disciples heard this. Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered from the root up. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look how the fig tree you cursed has dried up.” Jesus responded to them, “Have faith in God! I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’—and doesn’t waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen. Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you. (Mark 11:12-14, 20-24, CEB)

Ok, there are so many questions with this passage. For instance, why did the lectionary group decide to leave out verses 15-19? Verses 15-19 is Jesus and the disciples in the temple and Jesus turning over tables and driving out the money changers.

And why is it mentioned that the fig tree had only leaves because it wasn’t the season for figs? Didn’t Jesus know this and know because of this the tree would have no figs? And yet Jesus still curses the tree.

And then Jesus tells the disciples that if they have faith in God they can move mountains. Have you ever moved a mountain? I have faith in God and I have never moved a mountain, a tree, or anything by just thinking the thing should move. So do I really have faith? It is about the will of God. Sometimes our will is not God’s will and if we ask for something that doesn’t align with God’s will, it will not happen. But do not lose faith! Jesus is always with us.

Loving People. Loving God.

keep commandments

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God. Whoever loves someone who is a parent loves the child born to the parent. This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep God’s commandments. This is the love of God: we keep God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not difficult, because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith. Who defeats the world? Isn’t it the one who believes that Jesus is God’s Son? I write these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son so that you can know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in agreement with his will, he listens to us. If we know that he listens to whatever we ask, we know that we have received what we asked from him. If anyone sees a brother or sister committing a sin that does not result in death, they should pray, and God will give life to them—that is, to those who commit sins that don’t result in death. There is a sin that results in death—I’m not saying that you should pray about that. Every unrighteous action is sin, but there is a sin that does not result in death. We know that everyone born from God does not sin, but the ones born from God guard themselves, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. We know that God’s Son has come and has given us understanding to know the one who is true. We are in the one who is true by being in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols! (1 John 5:1-5, 13-21, CEB)

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep God’s commandments.” We are God’s children when we love God and keep God’s commandments.

So what are God’s commandments?

Is this the 613 Levitical Laws?

Is this the 10 Commandments?

Is this Love God and Love Neighbor?

Because not long after the statement I started this devotion with the author of 1 John says, “God’s commandments are not difficult,” Well that isn’t what Jesus said. The way Jesus expanded the 10 commandments he basically made them impossible for us to keep. So how are the easy? And if it is only Love God and Love neighbor, we even screw that up. We don’t always put God first and there are people in this world we do not love. (At least I can say there are people in the world I really don’t like, but I work on loving than as God loves me.)

So maybe that is why people are leaving the church because those who claim to be apart of the church aren’t always loving.

Maybe we need to try harder to love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Minimalism

I think like most people when we hear the word minimalism we think, “Oh no I will have to get rid of all of my stuff.” We have an emotional attachment to our stuff. As I was reading the excerpt from Christian Minimalism by Becca Erlich I was struck by her talking about her emotional attachment to the sweatshirt and how she took it out of the donation bag and hide it from herself under a basket of clothes. And I thought about the flannel jacket I have that was my father’s and the sweatshirt I never wear in the back of the closet that has memories from my years in high school. The minimalism I knew before the class, readings, and discussion said I had to get rid of these things because they are things I do not use and therefore I do not need. Minimalistic means having only the things you need if you have that much.

But that is not what minimalistic is at all.

The definition Erlich gives for minimalism is, “A focus on the aspects of life that matter most and intentionally removing everything else.” (p. 1)

Minimalism doesn’t mean you can’t own stuff. In my understanding now minimalism is not letting stuff own you. Now, this still doesn’t help with my emotional attachments to the flannel jacket and the sweatshirt. I could give them away because they are in the back of the closet and I hardly ever see them. So should I get rid of them? I also thought during class about the 16 clergy shirts I have. I got most of them when I was in seminary because I had to wear one every day I was at the congregation I was serving on internship. But now I wear a clergy shirt when I do supply and sometimes not even then. And I honestly could go with the 3 I have recently purchased because they are more comfortable than the others anyhow.

I think paring things down would be good for all of us. We, as a family, have done this every time we have moved for me to take a new call. We look through what we have and get rid of things we do not need, or have not used in a while. Except for that flannel jacket and sweatshirt in my closet.

It is interesting to me that minimalism is a spectrum that can be walked by people on the whole spectrum, from those who carry all of their worldly possessions with them in a bag everywhere they go, to people who live in nice homes, with 2 automobiles. It is about the focus of your life. And how the things you own are used for the betterment of relationships and working in the world. Again it is not about how many things you own, it is if your things own you.

All of us would benefit from focusing our life on God and the relationship we have with God. If we can make God the center focus of everything we do and have God be the thing that matters most in our life, then the stuff will fall away or stay and be used for the betterment of the world through God yielding it in the world.

I don’t need the 16 clergy shirts. And I might just give up the sweatshirt and the flannel jacket. But much like Erlich and her red shoes, I think my converse need to stick around. It is how these get used to show God’s love for me and all of creation, and when they become the center of attention, then I need to refocus my life on God because God is what matters most.

Minimalism is about stuff, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have stuff. It means your life is focused on God, and you own the stuff, the stuff doesn’t own you.